Yikes, sorry for the late update! Got busy so I haven't had the time lately. Don't worry, I'm already halfway done with the next chapter so I won't be slacking so much next time!
Chapter 10
...
"Antasma! You have no where to go! Drop the Dark Stone now!"
"After you pry it from my dead hands! You vouldn't kill you own, brother, vill you?"
"You are no longer my brother. Do not think I will hesitate to put an end to you!"
"SCREEHEEHEE! Your little threat is pathetic! I'd like to see you try!"
"Don't be like this, Antasma. I know you are not like this! Please, just give the stone back and we will forget this ever happened."
"Oh, NOW you vant to talk to me?! After shutting me out...abandoning me for six years, you decide to decide to talk now?!"
"Yes, I know what I did, and it was the worst mistake I ever made! Antasma, I am sorry!"
"No you're not. You are veak, und the veak shall be put out of their misery. Farewell, Dream Boy!"
"Masters, open the portal now!"
"Vhat?! Vhat is this?!"
"You shall be sealed into the dream world, for our safety and yours! Farewell Antasma, perhaps when you have found your sanity will I release you from your eternal prison."
"NO! YOU VILL NOT DEFEAT ME! I VILL DESTROY YOU IF IT IS THE LAST THING I DO!"
"No, Antasma! DROP THAT STONE!"
CRUSH!
...
"Ah, I missed my tunic." I said to myself as I clasped my cape on. Convinced by the others, it had been two days since my..."episode" in Joke's End. Though reluctant, I agreed to wait a little longer for my shoulder to heal before we leave for the Light Kingdom. But while Lady Lima tended to my arm and kept me in the castle, I would sneak out at night back to Joke's End where I could experiment with the curse.
I practiced tactics for combat and figured out how to teleport myself, where I combust into smoke like Antasma and reappear in a different location. I had also figured out how to hide underground by opening a black portal. It was how I drug Lady Lima down with me while fighting Antasma in the woods. I could even duplicate myself, exactly like what Antasma used to do in his battle with the brothers. I learned many more abilities that could definitely prove useful at some point in the future.
I took a deep breath and stared at myself. Today was the day...we were heading out for the Light Kingdom this morning. I woke up much earlier than I probably should have but I was far too anxious to get a proper sleep.
Plus, I spent half of the night at Joke's End.
My door suddenly burst open, "DREAMY BOY!"
"GAH!" I whipped around and growled, "Peasley, would you please KNOCK instead of busting open doors?!"
The younger prince smirked, "Sorry, couldn't resist."
He strode over to me and raised an eyebrow, "Couldn't sleep?"
"No..." I sighed, "Could you?"
"Not really," He admitted looking away briefly, "I...just wanted to ask you..."
Peasley faltered, grabbing my attention. Although his face remained emotionless, he looked oddly and suspiciously sheepish in the eyes, not to mention the apprehension I sensed. Clearly there was something wrong. Either that, or he did something he was not supposed to. I patiently waited for him to find his words.
"I'm just curious but...you remember our talk on the balcony about ourselves?"
I nodded and sat on the edge of my bed, "I do, why?"
"Well, about you...where does Antasma fit in?"
I stared at Peasley, "Wh-what? What do you mean by that?"
The beanish prince crossed his arms and shifted his weight on a leg, "I mean, it's obvious that you two have some history and you know each other pretty well from what I've heard. So...where does he come into your story? At first I assumed he was just another villain trying to gain power but...he's different because he has some sort of connection with you. I'm not talking about the prophecy either."
This was not what I expected...
"Yes, we know each other because we lived on the same island." I answered simply, "There is not much to it."
"Oh? I don't think so, you're hiding something. There had to be a reason why he just decided to take the Dark Stone one day when he could have done it a long time ago. Wasn't he just a harmless bat before? What happened to him? Something triggered him, didn't it?" Peasley stared back in an almost accusing manner. I snapped back, "Where exactly did you come up with such an assumption?"
"I..."
Whether it was an accidental instinct or a purposeful lead, his eyes slowly slid down to my nightstand. It took me a moment to realize he was staring at the book resting peacefully there. Anger flared within me as I glared at him, "You read my father's book-"
Peasley cut off my raised voice and put his hands up, "I didn't read it! I mean I did but...I didn't! I just...skimmed through it!"
I jumped up and growled, "When did you even have the chance to read it?"
"When you were still unconscious after the Antasma incident." He answered, "Listen, I just...I felt like you didn't tell me everything about yourself on the balcony. I saw the book and I was just...curious. Like I said, I only skimmed through it so I only got so much out of it. But the only part I thoroughly read was the part when your father watched you return to the castle...with a bat child no older than you were."
I said nothing in reply. Instead, I stared down at my petrified hands. If he had read that part, then there was no real reason to explain. Sighing heavily, I dropped back on my bed and looked at him without moving my head, "You know...don't you?"
Peasley rubbed the back of his head, "I have a good idea. You actually grew up with Antasma, didn't you?"
"If you read it then you should know." I said bitterly, still upset about Peasley barging into my personal life, "I will let you figure it out. Now if you would excuse me, I am going to find Lady Lima. Out of my room, Pretty Boy."
"But-"
"Out!"
Ignoring his objections, I shoved him through the door, shutting it behind me and summoned some vines to block the door. Just in case Peasley got 'curious' again. It was one skill I learned when practicing in Joke's End. The beanish prince blinked a few times and stared at the vines for a moment, as if caught off guard. He then turned to me, "Come on, that's just not right."
I smirked and whirled around, making my way to the left hall, "Do me a favor and let me know when the others wake up, okay?"
Not waiting for an answer, I advanced to Lady Lima's room, the first door on the west hall. I knocked first and waited patiently until I could hear a distracted, "Come in."
I came in to see the ambassador sitting at her desk, where books and old papers were stacked on it. She had glasses at the tip of her nose as she ran her finger across the line she was reading in a book. She took a double take at me and shot upright, "Ah, Prince Dreambert! Just the one I wanted to see!"
Rushing over to me, she took a hold of my good arm and pulled me to the center of her room. It looked almost like a library, as bookshelves filled with books covered the walls. I stood upon a woven rug where some more open books surrounded me. I raised an eyebrow, "I assume you have been busy?"
"Very," She replied as she picked up the book she was reading, "for I have been studying spellcasting to get it fresh in my mind again. I was just about to get you, as I have successfully remembered how to cast healing spells."
"Healing spells? So...does that mean you can heal my shoulder fully?" I asked. She nodded vigorously and put the book down, "Indeed, but to do so I recommend removing get the tunic to get a better performance."
I huffed silently but obeyed her and unbuckled the black belt around my waist, sliding the tunic off of me. She snatched it up and hung it on the back the the desk chair before returning to me, feeling the tight bandages through the fabric of my white shirt. Closing her eyes, she pressed both hands over the shoulder wound and began to chant in what I assumed to be the beanish language. Though unfamiliar with the language, I could hear some distinctive repeated words like sanar or arreglar.
Whatever that meant.
Lady Lima continued to chant for a minute or two, light emitting from her fingers, before pulling away. Once the light was gone, she gestured at my shoulder, "How do you feel?"
"...Not any different, honestly." I answered, a bit confused. She chuckled and backee away, "Now, remove the bandages."
I followed her directions and pushed my sleeve up, pulling the gauze loose and unwrapping it until it was completely off. I gaped at it for a while until I slowly met her gaze.
The wound was gone.
I felt around where the puncture wounds had once been, now replaced by seemingly untouched skin. The advisor smiled, "Yes, it worked just as I planned! Spellcasting is grear, is it not?"
"It is amazing." I said, still mesmerized by my healed shoulder. As she handed my tunic to me, I asked, "So...are spells a common thing in the Beanbean Kingdom?"
"Not anymore, but yes, casting spells originated from beanish culture. Back then it was a common thing, but it's dangerous to cast certain spells. The bigger the spell, the more energy it takes from you. Healing a certain wound won't take much from me, but trying to heal a critically wounded person could make me faint. Healing everything at once like broken bones and internal injuries takes someone much stronger than me who knows how to cast spells. People have died even trying to cast strong spells beyond their strength." She explained.
"What about Cackletta?" I asked, clasping my cape back over my shoulders, "If I remember correctly, Peasley told me that she cast a spell on him by resurrecting Dragohoho. She brought back both its body and soul to possess Peasley and turn him I to Dragohoho. That sounds like a strong spell to me."
"She is actually one reason why we don't use spells anymore. Power hungry advisors have often tried abusing spells to take over. Cackletta was one of them, as she was the elected royal advisor before me, during the king's time. Even I can't understand how she did that particular spell, honestly."
She put a finger on her chin, "Cackletta was certainly different, I'll say that much. But her spell still stays within Peasley, it seems. For he can still use Dragohoho's body since Mario and Luigi cleansed the soul from it. Usually when possession happens only the soul is doing the possession, but Peasley with a dragon's soul would be admittedly scary. She decided to extend the spell to bring back it's physical form as well. Peasley, having the recessive body and soul, was hidden under Dragohoho's dominant."
"That would be a bit scary." I said, "To be controlled against your will by a more dominant soul in a more dominant form. Except now, he is a soul with two forms to take."
Lady Lima nodded, "Indeed, Cackletta had broken the laws of life and death and Peasley unfortunately has to suffer being the victim. It's sadder than it should be since she purposely chose the one he despises most for killing his father."
"I cannot imagine-"
Someone knocked on the door, cutting me off and startling us both. Lady Lima then told them to come in and the brothers opened the door. Though Mario still looked a little drowsy, Luigi on the other hand was a different story. I was almost wondering if he was sleepwalking. Starlow at least looked well rested and gave a friendly smile, "Morning!"
"Good morning, Starlow." I smiled back, "I trust that you had a good sleep?"
"Well I did, but I don't know about them." She gestured at the brothers. Mario shook Luigi to make sure he would not fall asleep and sighed, "We just-a need some coffee. We're-a heading over to-a Starbeans for-a breakfast if anyone wants to-a join."
Both Starlow and I blinked, "Starbeans?"
"Ah, the Starbeans Café is a local coffee shop in the castle town." Lady Lima explained, "I advise all of you to go, as it is best for you to eat before departing."
"Gee, I dunno about you guys but I'm starving!" Starlow said, "Count me in!"
"I will go as well." I said.
Mario continued to shake Luigi as he pushed him forward out of the room, much to my amusement, "Well then let's-a go!"
"Wow, so Lady Lima healed your shoulder with a spell?" Starlow asked, taking a sip of her Hoolumbian coffee. I nodded as I too took a sip of my Chuckoccino and put it down, "She did, so now it will not be a worry. Although I wish she could have remembered the spell two days ago, I will not complain."
"Yeah, beggers can't be choosers if you get what I'm saying. But hey, at least it's gone now so that's something!" She chirped. I smiled...something about Starlow just made me want to smile, despite her strange behavior lately. She gave off a cheery vibe that made me enjoy being around her.
She looked past me and suddenly began giggling, "Who the heck is that?"
I turned around to see the brothers talking to a small man...on a vacuum. I nearly spat out my coffee at the sight and tried to refrain from laughing my lungs out, slapping a hand over my mouth to do so. Once I managed to regain my composure, I slid off of my seat and walked over, Starlow following. At the sight of me, the strange person gasped, "Oh, and who might this be?"
Oh Grambi, his voice.
I was admittedly dying on the inside, for I have never heard a higher pitched voice come from a guy. I had to look away for a moment before turning back to him, "I am Prince Dreambert. And...who might you be?"
"My, then you must be the prince who the brothers were telling me all about!" He promptly got off of his red vacuum and extended a hand, "Pleased to meet you! I am known to many as Professor E. Gadd. I'm just an old friend from a previous adventure of the brothers and I'm thrilled to see them here again!"
As I shook his hand, Starlow whispered in my ear, "This guy is going places..."
"I think he already has gone places." I whispered back, very amused. Nevertheless we listened with Mario and Luigi as he went on and on about his crazy inventions (such as his vacuum that supposedly sucked up ghosts) and his past experiences with the brothers. As I listened, I could not help but think; The world has changed so much...so many different people who originate from so many different places. This is really what it is like outside of my own kingdom...to be able to see new things and meet new people.
My thoughts were interrupted as a new but familiar voice said in my ear, "As much as I enjoy passing time with old friends, we really need to get going."
I jumped slightly and turned to see Peasley with his arms crossed.
"What? When did you even get here?"
"About two minutes ago, but apparently you didn't notice." He answered flatly, "I had to go to the airport to try and help our Piranha Plant problem."
"Piranha Plants?" Starlow asked, chiming into our conversation, "There's Piranha Plants here?"
Peasley nodded, "Many of them, especially in the airport. I myself have had...bad experiences with them, just ask the brothers. But there's far too many of them in the airport that I couldn't handle so even if we wanted to use the plane, we can't. We don't have time to deal with it either."
"Ah, Prince Peasley!" Professor E. Gadd suddenly turned his attention to him, "What brings you here?"
The younger prince smirked, "Well Professor, I'm going on another adventure with Mario and Luigi. We enjoyed out time with you, but I'm afraid we'll be leaving now."
"Another adventure, you say!" The professor laughed, making me struggle to keep my composure yet again, "Well then, I won't keep you all! It was nice seeing you two again! Toodles!"
With a final wave at the brothers, he got onto his vacuum and zoomed off on it. I watched him go, "He is one strange man..."
"Yeah, but-a he's still a great-a friend." Luigi said, throwing his empty cup away, "Are we-a ready?"
"Yes, I'll go grab Lady Lima back in the castle. She has the compass." Peasley said once we all threw away our cups. With that, the five of us walked out of the coffee shop and prepared for our journey to the unknown.
I went with Peasley to the castle while the others went north to Teehee Valley where we would meet. I went back just to remove the vines, but I decided to leave the book there under Lady Lima's watchful eye. I would rather leave it where I know where it is than risk losing it.
Once we found the brothers and Starlow in the valley, Peasley morphed into Dragohoho. Lady Lima came forward and handed me the golden compass, "Keep that safe, as it is the only key to the Light Kingdom. I wish you all luck, and please be careful."
We will, my lady. Peasley stretched out like a cat and shook himself. As he leaned down, Mario and Luigi were the first to climb on. Starlow took a seat in the back and I took the spot Mario saved me in the front. I glanced down at Peasley, "Are we a little heavy for you?"
Nah, you guys weigh nothing. He answered, lifting himself up easily and walking around a bit. Once he made sure we were used to the feel of him, he hummed and turned to Lady Lima. We'll be back soon.
"I sure hope so. Farewell to you all!" She waved.
Hang tight, this might be a little rough at first!
With that, he crouched and leaped in the air. His bright yellow wings unfolded and flapped as we ascended higher and higher. I, doing this before, was used to it and I looked back to check on everyone else. Mario grabbed a hold of Peasley's neck as Luigi was latched onto him. Starlow was sitting in the space between his wings and did not seem bothered.
We were well over a couple hundred feet above ground before Peasley straightened himself out, spreading his wings a far as possible to catch the wind let it carry him. I relaxed as the ride got smooth and we glided calmly over the kingdom. Peasley glanced back at us in the corner of his eye. Are we all okay back there?
"I am great!" I laughed, "That was actually pretty fun!"
"Then-a I question your-a definition of-a fun." Mario commented, making me chuckle. I looked back as he tried to pry Luigi off of him. Luigi was absolutely terrified as his eyes bulged at the ground below. I laughed again, "Luigi, it is all right. Just try not to look down and you will be fine."
"Yeah, Luigi! It's not that bad, see?" Starlow said, getting up so she was hovering on Peasley's back, "I'm floating and I'm not falling off. Don't think about it so much!"
Luigi still refused to let go, making Mario both sigh and wince at his brother's tight arms. Luigi tried looking at me but his eyes kept going down. We tried to get him to calm down for a solid ten minutes until Peasley spoke.
I've got this. You guys wanna see something cool?
We paused and looked at him curiously, even Luigi, "What?"
Look up. You see the clouds?
I gazed upwards, where the clouds were not so far away, "The sun is coming up, so they are kind of a pinkish...what about them?"
Peasley did not answer, but I could sense the smirk he had. He stopped gliding and began to climb even higher, though not as roughly as before. I watched as the Beanbean Kingdom got smaller and smaller. Even I began to get nervous, and I wondered how Peasley thought this would help Luigi.
...Until I looked up again.
We had flown into the clouds, where it almost felt like a different world. Peasley glided over the bottom layer of clouds that were mixed with beautiful morning colors. I smiled and looked back to see the others just as mesmerized. Feeling brave, I reached up to touch the clouds above. My hand felt cool against the soft condensation and I ended up raising both arms into the air, a wide smile on my face.
After a while I retracted my arms and watched as Luigi completely forgot about his fears, for he too was touching the clouds. In the far east, I could see the sun rising as we soared through the incredible scene. It felt so surreal to actually be in the clouds. I noticed Peasley's head turned slightly so that he could see us in the corner of his amber eye.
"Peasley..." I said, nearly breathless, "You found this on your own?"
I did. Pretty neat, huh?
"It's amazing!" Starlow exclaimed, "We're in the clouds! It doesn't get better than this!"
Oh, but it does. Just wait until nighttime, when the full moon is out. I'll have to show you later but for now, let's make sure we're going the right way. Am I going north, Dreamy Boy?
I took the compass out of my tunic and looked at it, "Yes, we are going north. I just hope that the Light Kingdom is not days away..."
Maybe it is, but as long as we have that compass, we'll get there eventually, Peasley hummed. Still taking in the scene, I sighed contently and slipped the compass back in my tunic safely. My thoughts drifted to the Dark Stone's spirit. She had not talked to me since the incident in Joke's End but I knew that she was listening to what was going on around me.
After a while, we grew quiet. It was a comfortable silence, for we were still taking in our breathtaking surroundings. As the Beanbean Kingdom gradually got farther away, we gradually got closer to possibly the oldest kingdoms in existence.
Little did I know that they also held the most shocking secrets I would ever discover in my life.
A bit anticlimactic, isn't it? Well, just wait until things really go down later, that'll make up for it I promise! I'll say this again; for the sake of this story, just try to imagine Dragohoho looking like a normal dragon. I know it's hard but please trust me on this one. XD
The last scene is a movie reference by the way, because I just recently rewatched it. Peasley's "humming" is a reference to a character of the movie too, in case that wasn't obvious enough. Anywho...
Reviews make me happy! :D
Ciao!
